Meditation Remembering the Loss of Life at Fort Hood

This is the meditation I offered this Sunday remembering those who died at Fort Hood on Sunday.

We gather this morning with heavy hearts.
A man, driven by motives we do not comprehend,
Has killed 13 and injured many more.
We ache with their friends, family and loved ones
for their loss, their grief and their suffering.

No divinity as envisioned by Christianity, Judaism or Islam
would condone or vindicate such an action.
No holy purpose was served in their deaths.
No heavenly reward awaits those who take life violently.
The fruit of killing is only more death and destruction.

Painful though it may be,
Let us respond with love rather than hate and vengence.
The God of Christianity, Judiasm and Islam is a loving God.
The only holy purpose is to love, to create,
to uphold and affirm life in greater abundance.
The reward for affirming life is meaning and fulfillment.

Let every violent death rededicate us to this high purpose.
Let our love and compassion grow stronger in its face.
Let that love feed our resolve to be instruments of peace
in this troubled world.